episode_0047

While I was frozen and embarrassed after seeing Kalintz, Irene spoke to me in a friendly voice.

“Ah, Swen. Because you were losing your mind… … I don’t know.”

I turned my head and looked at Irene.

And – I was able to hear from her what happened while I was unconscious.

* * *

Turn the clock forward.

Carlinz, who had succeeded in escaping from the prison of Cherien Castle, snatched the soldier’s horse and quickly rushed towards the fortress.

From what I heard, it seemed that Serpina’s army was leading about 50,000 soldiers and was advancing on Cherien Castle, which had lowered its defenses and removed its troops by trapping its own soldiers.

It’s good that they managed to escape by taking advantage of the inevitably chaotic atmosphere… … The problem was next.

‘I was foolish.’

As I was imprisoned and thinking about it with a cold head, I felt like I realized how foolish I had been.

First of all, the morale of the soldiers at Cherien Castle was not low at all.

Although Serpina conquered the north, she did not completely win the public support throughout the north, so wasn’t Kalintz herself clearly aware that many unrest of one kind or another would occur?

If we thought about that, we could have deduced that the rebels might be surprisingly loyal to Ian.

Anyway, the results of his battle were disastrous.

A general from an enemy country who took care of the goods that Serpina’s army should have brought in!

Perhaps, thanks to Kalinz and no one else, but himself, the Serpina army will be able to easily suppress the rebellion.

It was like establishing the military work that I had so desperately wanted to establish.

However, not the military exploits of the Brans army, but the military exploits of the enemy country, Serpina.

‘Damn it!’

How humiliating is this?

After it was all over, I realized my arrogance and foolishness.

Moreover, it was clear that since everything was ruined like this, the fortress he had built on his own initiative would inevitably be taken away.

Originally, this fortress was built at the strong insistence of Kalinz himself.

Since they suffered a disgrace in the battle against the small nation of Lunarien and failed to achieve any significant results in the north, they had to do something and show something.

Because he was not just a general, but a blood relative of Lin Brans, the monarch of Brans County.

Even though I was already living a life where I was always compared to my older and younger siblings, I didn’t want to hear that ‘an incompetent guy got into that position because of blood ties.’

Although objectively speaking, he was a very outstanding general, he became impatient because he was always relatively undervalued compared to his brothers and sisters.

In such a situation, a fortress whose strategicity was questionable from the construction stage is recaptured not even long after it was built?

Is that also the result of fighting unreasonably and only doing good things for others?

When I was building this fortress, I received advice several times, saying, ‘If it is taken over, there is a high possibility that it will bring favorable results to the enemy, so it would be better not to build it.’

At the time, my vision was blurry, so I just ignored it and moved on – but now I can see it.

They were right.

Looking back, I realized that I was only doing useless things.

‘damn!’

Carlinz thought.

Now that it has become this ugly, I think I should stop begging for my life.

I would rather die fighting in the fortress.

For the honor of the Brans family, he had to die on the battlefield.

If you did such a stupid thing, wouldn’t you have to take responsibility yourself?

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the confidence to look at the faces of his younger brother, the master, and his older brother, the best swordsman of Brans’ army.

but.

No matter how much he thought about it, he was uneasy at the thought that his younger brother Rin might have given an order to leave the military.

Because it was her nature not to get hung up on a battle she couldn’t win.

What if you arrive at the fortress and the flag hanging is not sky blue but a bright yellow flag symbolizing Serpina County?

Kalinz was even considering the extreme idea of fighting the fortress alone.

‘please… … Just hold on a little longer… … !’

Has Kalinz’s wish been reached?

Fortunately, the flag hanging on the fortress was light blue, proving that it belonged to the Brans Army.

but.

The atmosphere was somehow strange.

‘… … What is that?’

On top of the castle wall, a man was doing something strange.

It seems like I’m screaming between two drums.

When I got a little closer, I saw that it was a white-haired man.

It seems like there was definitely one young man with white hair these days… … ?

However, he is not given any more time to think.

“… … Huh?”

When he raised his head and looked at the sky.

There——

* * *

After hearing the situation from Iren, I was able to understand the current situation.

‘Right. Is it a prison break?’

Generals with high abilities were less likely to be taken prisoner, but even if they were caught, they often escaped prison.

Therefore, they tended to appoint people quickly or quickly use them as material for diplomacy.

As the situation was dire, Ian seemed unable to react wisely.

Well, I understand. How can you manage prisoners when the rebels who just raised their army are engaged in battle?

There is a high probability that Serpina’s army was dispatched.

Kalinz nodded as if he was overwhelmed by something and spoke to the horse.

For some reason, the way he looked at me was unusual.

“Swen! I guess your name is Swen, right?”

“Yes.”

“Yes! Your name… … I, Kalinz Brans, remembered clearly. I will never forget it in the future.”

?

I’m wondering why he’s acting like that all of a sudden, but I’ve already thrown cold water on him here, so let’s deal with him in moderation.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, I am grateful. I heard that you were the only one in the fortress that everyone had abandoned, even protesting and saying that you would fight in person even though no orders were given to you… … ?”

I don’t know when I last heard about that again.

Since it is true, let’s just say so.

“Yes.”

“Yes! Swen… … They risked their lives and fought to protect this fortress, even resisting! For me, Carlinz Brans!”

???

What on earth is he talking about?

Why do I fight for you?

but.

Carlinz, who had no way of knowing that I was thinking that way, spoke with great tension about what was so overwhelming.

“Swen! I, too, have witnessed the miracle you have wrought! I saw it on the way to the fort on horseback!”

‘ah.’

When I heard that story, I suddenly felt like my head became clearer.

When making inferences – I was thinking that I might be able to explain the fact that Carlinz became my ally and rebelled against me.

That’s not it, it was like he saw me putting on a live show with his own eyes.

That means-

Kalinz Brands meant that I became confident beyond just recognizing myself as an ‘extremely great person.’

‘… … That’s scary.

Prediction of intelligence of 100.

Even though I did it, there were times when it was scary enough to give me goosebumps.

“Building an altar, barely surviving each day with minimal food in order to communicate with heaven… … I guess it’s true that I kept knocking on heaven’s door by playing the drum!”

It seems like the story has gained some flesh.

It looks interesting, so let’s just stay still.

“Ha! The expression on your face says, “How did you know?””

Kalintz talked excitedly to himself without even listening to my answer.

“Soldiers who fought together in the fortress! I was able to hear detailed information from them! Swen! I’m really proud of you! It seems that my master’s eye for people is not wrong, as we have a talented person like you joining our military!”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm! That’s how it should be!”

Kalintz said with a grin.

His confident tone seemed confident that I would be moved by what he said right now.

“I will never forget that you risked your life for me in this battle! As long as you are in Brans County, there will never be anyone who will look down on you! I promise in the name of Brans!”

“… … .”

It was true that I felt like it was annoying, but-

Still, it would be easier to just let people praise me like that rather than criticizing me.

After making a fuss, Kalintz leaves the room.

Again, only Iren and I were left in this room.

I turned my head and looked at Irene.

She was looking at me with worried eyes, wondering what was so unsettling.

“… … Swen. I hope you can calm down for a while.”

“I’m fine because I slept for about a day.”

“Listen to me. Please.”

“… … .”

I think I can get up now… …

Well, let’s just accept the favor here.

I thought it would be okay to think of it as making up for my already low stamina.

“Okay. Still, if anything happens, please call me.”

“Hmm. Sure.”

And, silence came again.

Only then did I feel strange and asked a question.

“I… … Irene.”

“What is it?”

“Are you still going to stay here?”

“Yes.”

Iren nodded and answered immediately.

“Swen, because taking care of you is my job. As for the fortress’s affairs, General Carlinz has returned so he will take care of it.”

“… … Are you okay? Still, don’t you have something to do?”

“No. For me now… … Swen, taking care of you is more important than anything else.”

She spoke in a very firm tone.

However, when she said that, her eyes were warm rather than cold.

For some reason, his attitude seemed to have changed a bit compared to before he lost his mind… …

Honestly, I didn’t dislike her attitude that much.

“Then, please ask.”

“Yes.”

She smiled at me.

I was able to protect that smile-

At this moment, for the first time, I felt grateful that my intelligence was at 100.

*

It had been about a few days at the fortress.

News came that all of Ian’s castles, including Cherien Castle and Mati Castle, had been taken over by Serpina’s army, Ian’s army had been destroyed, and Ian Rashphalt, who had started a rebellion, had disappeared after being executed.

It is said that the heads of not only Ian, but also all of the rebel generals, including Solana Rashphalt and others who joined him in the rebellion, were cut off.

It was a really short rebellion.

It probably wouldn’t have lasted long anyway, but why did they rebel even though they knew it would happen?

I once again became curious about such things, but there was no way to find out anymore.

Because Ian passed away.

‘What will happen to the North in the future?’

The suppression of the rebels and the execution of all of them sent a big message.

A message that everyone who rebels against Serpina will be killed.

Serpina’s prestige in the north will grow even higher.

If the North is completely stabilized… … Of course, the place where the tip of the sword was aimed was Brans County.

‘My lord, you should prepare well.’

Well, why not take care of it yourself?

All I had to do was find an escape point with Irene at the right time.

And again a few days pass.

Reinforcements sent by Lin from Annell Castle have just arrived at the fortress.

Irene and I greeted the people who had arrived as reinforcements in the conference room where Kalinz was located.

“I, Taltin, have just arrived at the command of my lord, General Kalinz.”

“Umm, yes.”

“I was really relieved to hear that General Kalinz escaped prison safely. My lord would have been happy to hear the news.”

“… … .”

Kalinz didn’t respond in particular and changed the subject.

“Okay. Support troops can be used in this fortress from now on, right?”

“Well, I don’t think that will happen.”

“What?”

In response to Kalinz’s question, the general who called himself Taltin spoke in a stern tone.

“This is an order from my lord. All generals under his command, including Kalinz Brans, have been ordered to return to Annel Castle.”

“What? Ask me to return? Then who will remain in this fortress?”

“… … .”

Taltin hesitated very slightly, but then carefully opened his mouth.

“And secondly, after gathering all the supplies that can be packed… … He ordered the fortress to be destroyed.”